rate calculators

I was curious is there a rate calculator that you guys use to set your hauling prices. I am a company driver right now, but come summer i will be an o/o. I plan to pull a stepdeck. I was curious is all i have looked online but havent found anything to help me. Guess i havent looked in the right place. Any info you can give me will help. Thanks for your time and effort.

 

look around there are O/O that will help you git the info you are looking for but im gitting 1.40 a ml so far but its local work so but look in the post
Buying A Truck.... ( 1 2 3 4 5 6 7)
B&T Rogers there is some help there

 

I won't go for less than 1.80/mile on our load board. My average is much higher than that. My average since Christmas has been 2.27. Having said that, I have also had to deadhead further to find good paying freight, but have been able to keep moving, and stay loaded.

 

First off everyone's needs are different.
You have to figure out your own "Break-even Point" based on your:

• Cost of fuel per mile
• Cost of insurance per mile
• Cost of maintenance per mile
• mortgage on rig (if any) per mile
• Your salary (Your salary is not a profit)

Anything above and beyond that is actual profit, which should go into a new truck fund; or rebuild engine/trans fund; and your retirement account.


Secondly, all of these drivers who claim that they are always getting $2/m or better are lying out of their a-z-zes, especially loads off the boards right now.

The transportation managers have already factored the drop in diesel in the cost of running freight. The economy also dictates the price of freight as well.
Last year at this time you could easily get lumber loads for at least $1.50/m, now you'd be lucky to get $.80/m.

Don't worry about impressing others by just going for the "$2/m only loads and dead-heading" 500 miles to get there. Do it smart, sometimes you'll have to run a $1.20/m for a few hundred miles to get to that better load.

 

don't want to cut and paste here ...Ron is right in what he says........

 

thanks guys for your help. i know ron's advice is usually on the same track as my thinkin. hope that doesn't make ron go to therapy. but thanks for all the help

 

Nana and I will se that he's ok...chocolate and dryer lint should keep him calm lol



aside from that we have been O/O since Jan of 1983 I will not sugar coat this and never have to anyone....its a tough game I have seen guys that were sloppy with their book keeping and not frugal with their spending......they have gone by the wayside and work in town now.....seen small fleet owners spend all the money to doll a truck up and nothing on basic upkeep and well they have drastically cut their fleet.....don't kid yourself a hired driver will cost you money it is a fact of life.....it is a rarity to find a driver that will drive your truck like its his truck always keep track of your bottom line and know where your break even point is before takeing a load....you are in business to make a proffit not break even! PAY YOUR QUARTERLY TAXES that is one area that kills owner ops. I also check out my fuel prices online and decide where to make my purchases.......best of luck

 

hey thanks pony. i know will drive the truck like i want it drove. i plan to own and drive it my self. i havent bought a truck yet because i want to have enough backup money to run for 6 months with no income, how it never happens like that. i would like to buy a basic pete 379 with nothing fancy. fancy can wait until its paid for.

 

yea getting that backup money is tough I know the banker has said you need to have xxx amt set aside for repaires and it always takes every dime just to float the boat......but I have had several times when the hubby has gotten sick or injured and been in hosp/off work for 1-2 weeks ...and at that point I have always had just enough to survive till the truck starts rolling again.....my goal is to have enough set aside to pay for the next overhaul outright.......

 

You hear some guys say they won't pull cheap freight, but one thing to keep in mind is if you set there 3 days waiting for a better paying load you still have your fixed costs for sitting there and more than likely 3 days later the rates out of there won't be any better. It is good to know the freight areas. If you get a good load in you might have to eat crow to come out. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices to get in a better bargaining position.
Good post there ron!